Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface, was the first player to show up for pre-season training for the 2026/27 season. The club shared this news on their official X account, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Boniface came back to his parent club after spending the off-season in Nigeria. He had just finished a loan at Werder Bremen.
"No time to waste! Na Victor carry first report for training. Welcome back, Boniface," the club posted on X on Thursday.
After going through fitness tests at the club’s training facilities, the Nigerian striker will join his teammates for pre-season training in Blankenhain, near Erfurt, Germany. This training camp is set for August 1 to 7.
Boniface had a fantastic debut season after joining Bayer Leverkusen from Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in the summer of 2023. He scored 21 goals and made nine assists in 34 matches. His efforts helped Xabi Alonso’s team win their first Bundesliga title without losing a single game.
He also won four Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards during that great season.
But injuries affected his progress the next season. He found it hard to keep up those good performances.
During the 2024/25 season, Boniface scored 11 goals and had one assist in 27 matches. At the same time, worries about his recurring knee issues began to arise.
His problems grew when two transfer deals fell through. The first was to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and the second was to AC Milan. Reports say medical concerns were part of why both transfers did not happen.
The striker's situation worsened after a surprise loan to Werder Bremen. There, injuries and fitness problems seriously affected his performance. Boniface could not score in 11 matches as he battled ongoing knee issues and struggled to get back to full fitness.
As he makes his return to Leverkusen, sporting director Simon Rolfes is hopeful that Boniface can find his best form again before the new season starts.
Leverkusen will kick off their 2026/27 Bundesliga season on August 29 with an away match against newly promoted SV Elversberg.
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